The Reincarnation of The Deceptions: MCC Again

 

 

By Alpha Amadu Jalloh

 

Once again, Sierra Leone is caught in the grip of another celebration orchestrated by a lazy government completely lost in oblivion. Another hollow victory. Another show of empty hands clapping. This time, it is the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funds being paraded as a major national achievement when in reality, Sierra Leoneans have been fed this narrative since 2018 with little or no tangible change to show for it.

 

From the onset, the SLPP government has poked fun at the people with constant MCC theatrics. MCC this, MCC that. In every address, celebration, or presidential boast, this elusive fund has taken center stage. One cannot forget how the First Lady once stormed every platform claiming her husband is the greatest president for securing MCC funds, waving it like a badge of national redemption.

 

But what was really secured?

 

The Americans brought the money but not without strings. Strings that threatened our sovereignty and culture. Under Joe Biden’s administration, Sierra Leone was expected to bend on social issues such as LGBTQ+ rights in exchange for this financial assistance. But with the return of Donald Trump, who is openly opposed to such impositions, the deal seems to have shifted in form but not in nature.

 

Let us be clear. Sierra Leone is not a country to be bribed into values it doesn’t own especially not for the equivalent of crumbs while other African nations secure dignified, billion-dollar bilateral deals. Countries like Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, and even Tunisia, with strong leadership and economic planning, are signing contracts that transform infrastructure, education, and agriculture.

 

So what makes Sierra Leone’s government dance with such energy over USD 480 million?

 

This amount will barely register on the national development scale. Worse, it has not even entered the Consolidated Revenue Fund. And still, we celebrate. Government officials, from the President down, act like this is a miracle descended from the heavens when in fact it is an indictment of how low we’ve set our ambitions.

 

Recently, the same administration signed a much-hyped MoU for the construction of the Lungi Bridge, a structure many believe is long overdue for genuine investors. Since then, nothing has been heard again. No follow-up. No updates. The government celebrated a memorandum of understanding, not a contract. That’s how far we have fallen.

 

Now comes the MCC again, allegedly targeted at the energy sector. We’ve heard this before. We’ll wait. We’ll watch the same cycle of launches, foreign trips, workshops, and press releases and perhaps by the time this administration exits, the lights will flicker briefly before going dim once again.

 

From its 2023 review, the MCC stated clearly,

“Sierra Leone has made significant efforts in controlling corruption and demonstrating political will, which has led to its continued eligibility. However, we expect clear, transparent implementation mechanisms and accountability.”

 

This is not praise. It is a caution. It reminds us that eligibility is not achievement. That transparency is a condition, not a result. And that continued access to MCC support is subject to rigorous performance.

 

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda once said

“Why should we be comfortable with begging bowls when we are sitting on immense wealth”

 

Kagame, a leader known for rebuilding Rwanda with grit and dignity, also noted

“Africa does not need pity, it needs fair partnerships.”

 

These words cut through the core of our situation. Sierra Leone is not a poor country. We are rich in minerals, human resources, fertile land, and potential. What we lack is leadership with vision and courage. Leadership that refuses to be patronized for pennies. Leadership that says no to performance politics and yes to sustainable development.

 

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation, in its latest assessment, notes that while several African nations are moving forward in governance, infrastructure, and youth empowerment, countries like Sierra Leone are stagnating. This is not due to lack of aid or assistance. It’s due to mismanagement, poor planning, and a fixation on short-term political wins over long-term national progress.

 

And yet, our officials continue to celebrate mediocrity.

 

In a time when Africa’s youth are demanding results not rhetoric the old tactics of using foreign aid as a political trophy must end. Sierra Leoneans are watching. We are not blind to the double standards. We see how other nations demand respect and receive real support while we cheer for MoUs and hypothetical projects.

 

The MCC is not salvation. It is not a victory. It is, at best, a small nudge that may or may not yield visible outcomes. If our leaders think it is the pinnacle of success, they have clearly lost the plot.

 

President Kagame warned us again

“The biggest problem on the continent is not lack of resources. It is the mindset.”

 

Let that sink in.

 

Sierra Leone needs a new mindset one that refuses to glorify dependency and that builds from within. We must demand accountability for every cent, stop accepting tokenism, and insist that our government stops using foreign aid as a mask for their failures.

 

As citizens, we must stop clapping for empty victories. As a nation, we must stop waiting for America or any other country to rescue us. Our rescue lies within.

 

Until then, every MCC celebration will be nothing more than the reincarnation of the Decepticons loud, glittery, and ultimately hollow.